Cole Escola's smash B'way play, "Oh Mary"

July 25, 2024 3:42 AM

Cole Escola explains the inspiration for his new smash hit play "Oh Mary" to Seth Meyers. Cole plays an alcoholic Mary Todd Lincoln who yearns to be a cabaret star. Little does she realize she's merely a beard for her gay husband, Abraham, who has a half Filipino lover on the down-low. Belly laughs and pratfalls ensue. Tickets are hard to get btw.

The show held it's opening night party at the well known leather bar, the Eagle. It drew the likes of Steven Spielberg, Ana Wintour, and other luminaries.

posted by Czjewel (15 comments total)

It's in the zeitgeist: New Abraham Lincoln doc asserts he liked 'dashing' and 'daring' men
posted by chavenet at 4:03 AM on July 25 [2 favorites]

chavenet, And who does doesn't!
posted by Czjewel at 4:07 AM on July 25 [6 favorites]

We got to see this a few weeks ago before it moved to Broadway and the audience was roaring the whole way through. Just stupidly delightful.

Cole deleted their (perfect) pre-show playlist on Spotify but luckily people made their own copies first.

Runs through November 10th.
posted by bcwinters at 4:44 AM on July 25 [4 favorites]

Thank you for this post - first I had heard of them and lololol awesome. A gem.
posted by whatevernot at 4:47 AM on July 25 [1 favorite]

Tish says, 'there is a Bucktail Soldier here devoted to the President, drives with him, & when Mrs L. is not home, sleeps with him.' What stuff!
posted by mittens at 4:53 AM on July 25 [1 favorite]

Her name was Puka, like the shell
posted by bcwinters at 5:21 AM on July 25 [5 favorites]

It's worth noting that the "What stuff!" link above finds the soldier story unconvincing, rather than corroborative.

Finally, this one source—not two independent sources—must be weighed against an overwhelming mass of contemporary and later eyewitness testimony that breathes not a word of scandal. Questions and innuendo about Lincoln's relations with his male bed companions in early Springfield will never cease, but there is quite enough to interest us about the sixteenth president without transforming the Derickson story into a defining episode in the life of Lincoln.

posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 5:40 AM on July 25 [1 favorite]

People, there is compelling photographic evidence of Lincoln’s lifestyle.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 6:05 AM on July 25 [5 favorites]

Oddly, there's not the same sort of regard given to James Buchanan.
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:10 AM on July 25 [4 favorites]

Even more Cole Escola goodness.

Also, do yourself a favor and watch At Home With Amy Sedaris for even more, more Cole Escola.
posted by hairless ape at 7:50 AM on July 25 [2 favorites]

I saw Oh Mary earlier this month! It's so, so good. The first few minutes I was like "oh my god this is so dumb and it's like, one joke, how is this going to fill an hour and a half" and it just keeps getting stupider and stupider and by the last 15 minutes the entire audience is just sort of screaming helplessly at every single thing Cole does. 5 stars
posted by theodolite at 8:12 AM on July 25 [4 favorites]

I saw Oh Mary when it was still on its Off Broadway run. My husband got tickets for it, but I wasn't familiar with any of Cole Escola's previous work nor had any idea what the play was going to be about. Oh Mary was probably the most hilarious hour and a half I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying!
posted by astapasta24 at 8:31 AM on July 25 [4 favorites]

I've got tickets for September, and very much looking forward to it.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:04 AM on July 25 [1 favorite]

Last I heard, docents at Buchanan's house Wheatland were talking about it. Although volunteers and policies come and go, so who knows what's happening currently.
posted by PussKillian at 9:32 AM on July 25 [1 favorite]

For a few minutes it seems like it will be a light parody of a historical drama. The cast is using transatlantic accents and the set looks blandly historical. And then they start cursing each other out, dropping ice cream, scheming, and shit just escalates to pure foolishness. The fucking light cues are funny.

Loved it, missed multiple jokes due to laughter, and it was a breath of fresh air after some disappointing "straight" plays. Try to see it if you're a Mel Brooks fan, Charles Busch/Ludlam fan. It's like they had a perfect baby.

It is rare to see something so silly scooped out of one demented person's brain and plopped on a big stage. I think that is the reason so many serious, award-winning directors and actors have seen it. Imagine if Miss Piggy were finally the star of a big show!
posted by Freecola at 2:07 PM on August 14